February 10th, 2018

Tip #1: How to handle Multiple Choice Questions on Passage Organization

These questions ask readers to assess how the author has organized a passage. Its not just the structure but the purpose of the author at each stage. Try to think like the author as you are reading.

To handle these questions, it is important to first expect that they will be asked: One should

1. Predict as you are reading what plan the author has for the reader
2. Think of the general flow of topics from paragraph to paragraph
3. Know various organizing structures:
4. Look closely at the introduction and conclusion and what their function is:

These are the ones that are most typically mentioned  in Multiple Choice Questions
—Chronological
—Puzzle/theory/alternative theory
—Problem/cause/solution/analysis
—Problem/ solution/pros/cons
—Cause/effect
—Condition/consequence
Know how to determine these structures. There are a number of ways to identify them. For example, look quickly at dates and the order to determine if it is in chronological order. Does the introduction raise a problem or mystery. Remember that an introduction does not always start a flow but may be a kind of 'hook to get the reader interested.